Title: Beauty and the Beast
Chapter Eight: John's First Night
Author: The Lady of Shadows
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Pairings: McShep
Rating: PG to Pg-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing! SGA and Disney's BatB belong to their respective owners!
Author's Notes: Thanks goes out to my wonderful beta, Allison.
Beauty and the Beast
Chapter Eight: John's First Night
John looked around his room curiously. It was gorgeous, he had never been surrounded by such luxury in his life. He walked to the window, staring out at the wintry darkness. He sighed, wondering on how Radek was doing. "What are you sighing over, lad?" a voice rumbled out behind him.
John spun around to face the voice and was confronted by a wardrobe. John stared at it in disbelief, the wardrobe smiled at John and said, "Och lad, don't be so surprised. You have met the Master of this castle after all." It shuffled closer, "now, lad, would ye like a physical?"
"A physical?" choked out John.
"Yes, lad. I'm the physician of this castle, I'm Dr. Carson Beckett."
"But . . . but you're a wardrobe!" John sputtered.
A heavy sigh came from Carson, "That's my own bloody fault. I should have never kept my equipment in a wardrobe. When the curse hit, I was turned into one."
John looked at Carson curiously, "So the whole castle is under a curse?"
"Yes."
"Should you have told me this?"
"Lad, you seem to be quite bright. I'm sure you would have figured it out quite quickly with all the walking, talking furniture and utensils," came the wry response.
John thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement, "So why is the castle and its inhabitants cursed and what will break it?"
"Now that, lad, I can't tell," Carson replied firmly.
John accepted his answer with a shrug, it had been worth a try. A knock came at the door and John went and answered it. In rolled trolley with a brown teapot and cup, John looked at them curiously. The teapot and cup looked John over. John smiled and drawled, "Hi, I'm John Sheppard. Nice to meet you."
"I am Holling and this is my son, Jinto," the teapot gravely replied.
"Hi," piped Jinto cheerfully.
John smiled at Jinto and arched a brow at Holling. "John, would you like a spot of Athosian Ceremonial Tea?" Holling inquired.
"Sure."
"One lump or two and would you like cream with that?"
John smiled to himself, he had heard about Athosian Ceremonial Tea and how you were supposed to drink it. He did not want to offend Holling so he said, "Black is fine, thanks."
Holling nodded in approval and poured some tea into Jinto. John sat down on the bed and slowly sipped his tea. He had a feeling that the animated objects in this castle had hung their hopes of breaking the curse on him. Now he didn't mind helping out but he really wish he had an idea exactly they expected him to do.
"Now lad, about the Master don't mind him to much. He is really a good person underneath all of his bluster and sarcasm." Carson stated jovially, "I hope you don't take how he treated your father too badly."
John regarded Holling and Carson curiously and asked, "And how am I supposed to take it?"
"Well, Mr. Radek did something that really pissed the Master off." Jinto told John sadly, "He really shouldn't have erased all of the Masters equations."
John groaned, he had lived among mathematicians and inventors for most of his life. There was one thing you didn't do and that was mess with someone else's work without permission. Just what had Radek been thinking? No wonder Rodney was pissed. Then Radek had made it worse by insulting Rodney. John, now that he knew what happened, didn't blame Rodney for his actions. After all, Rodney actually hadn't hurt Radek. While he was thinking about this, he failed to see Holling and Carson exchange happy glances. Holling cleared his throat, "We'll leave you for now John. You would probably like to freshen up before dinner."
John smiled at them and nodded in agreement. Holling and Jinto wheeled out on the trolley and Carson hopped back to his place along the wall. John heard sounds coming from the chamber on the left. He got up, walked to the door and opened it. A bath had been prepared for him and John smiled happily. A bath would be good.